Forum menu
The lad needs a purple lid to complete the look 😉
The lad needs a purple lid to complete the look
His one makes him easy to spot.
3rd after run1
2nd. 0.03 off;!!!
Nice one 👍
There isn’t a completely unlimited budget
says the guy with a spare race bike
Top result
Ditto. Well done that lad! 🙂
Just a minor apology to anyone who posted in the last 12 hours. The subject raised i have to wait a little bit longer before going into details, so if we can keep it on just the current racing stuff for a little bit longer that would be appreciated. I know that's going to be a little cryptic to some reading this but all will come out in the wash soon enough.
Here's a post-race mess about video to make up for it.
HAhahahaha, i just found this.
This was 2017 in Sept.... the difference is fairly marked 😀
MAybe this is the sort of video you only find funny if it's your own kid, a bit like boring people with holiday snaps... but hey... it made me smile 🙂
MAybe this is the sort of video you only find funny if it’s your own kid, a bit like boring people with holiday snaps… but hey… it made me smile
Nope, I have the same with one of mine. Kids on bikes rock. Even when they are grown adults.
I have just looked - this is first off-road ride I have a picture of that is not local park.
From 2008:[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/3221/2781134677_f77d2c0ad5_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/3221/2781134677_f77d2c0ad5_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5eL3rT ]100_5790[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
to
Sat at the Tunnel. Earliest on my phone is 2006
Morzine
[img] 
[/img]
Verbier
[img] 
[/img]
Epic..... someone should start a thread of these, it's a shame to have cool stuff like this lost in another thread... they deserve a place of their own 🙂
Could have a then an now for everyone
SO it's a new weekened and yup, another race. This weekend is Forest of Dean. MIJ racing and a course we both know well. So not only is he racing the purple one, but i'm racing the blue one. That's now re-sprung to my weight and ready to roll.
The lad wanted to do this one as it's a fun course, along with being the last ranked event of the season (potentially) so his last chance to score national ranking points. We have 2 other events booked for the remaining months of 2022 at Tidworth (never been there, so good to see) and 417 which if it's raining we're staying at home lol.
We've then got so so many plans.... some of the pretty big/amazing... but currently i've got to hold my tongue, which as you probably know is not my strong point 😀
But as part of them he's now started a Young Athlete core conditioning course, which will help with strength, conditioning and overall fitness... 2 days a week, to get him fitter for next season.
We’ve then got so so many plans…. some of the pretty big/amazing
@weeksy jnr & snr putting in guest appearances at the DH WC in Fort Bill??? 😉
weeksy jnr & snr putting in guest appearances at the DH WC in Fort Bill???
LOL apart from the fact he's nowhere near good enough for a WC attempt, he's too young currently to do so. I've not actually checked in depth yet as he's only just 14, but i think it's 17 you need to be for entering the juniors at that level. So a pretty long time yet before anything like that would ever become anything more than a random dream, let alone a remote possibility.
I did send you a private message though... not sure if you've seen it.
I did send you a private message though… not sure if you’ve seen it.
I did cheers :). I wasn't going to spill any beans though haha. All very exciting for you both. Love the race pictures, though anything wheels-off-ground still scare me hahahaha - says way more about me than anything your lad has the skills to do
It's funny seeing the pics as we all look at them from our level and think "wow"... but the truth is, in a jump context he's good, but not like a Jackson Goldstone good...he's just a good club level DHer...the reality is, there's 50, 100, 1000 others out racing each and every weekened who can jump and rail berms as well or better than him. But i do absolutely LOVE watching him as the one thing you miss in the pics is just how smooth and effortless these guys make it look. It's just 'big jump, nail it' time and time again from them all. It's an absolute wonder to watch...
I guess though where he kinda wins is levels of support he has in terms of family, time and i guess to an extent finances... He's properly lucky of course that MTB is my passion too and most importantly at this stage of his teenagerness, he's a genuinely nice lad (parental bias here of course).
I’ve read this thread but not commented before. Weeksy seems to get a lot of stick for how he goes about taking his young lad racing. So many people missing the point and I think it’s a credit to weeksy that he keeps it all going.
Reminds me of when I was that age. Me and my twin brother did schoolboy MX. Initially we shared a bike but eventually we had one each and could go together. So every other Sunday or thereabouts we would have a day out with dad (he had to milk the cows first so we couldn’t do overnights) and mum would have some piece and quiet with my younger sister.
Then when I was 14 dad got cancer and died and it all stopped. So you keep going weeksy you are giving your son something incredible. Of course it doesn’t matter if he never makes it to the top of the sport. He’s getting something money can’t buy (although it’s costing you an arm and a leg!)👍
So many people missing the point
In their defence 'the point' has changed quite a bit in the course of the thread... Sorta.. well.. the potential goals etc have changed, but the point has always been, me and the lad out riding.. But obviously the themes within that have moved over time, from XC racing when we started it all at 8, onto Enduro and then onto DH.
I can completely see what some are saying at times and in the coming weeks, some people will see that things have not been quite as ignored as they thought. I know some of the comments come over as harsh and come over as ignored... but i don't think that's often the case, they just get a little frustrated as i don't do what they say. But as someone earlier stated, i'm not always looking for answers or advice and some of my questions are more questions to myself rather than 'them', but i put them down here as it gives me a little insight into my own brain as well at times as getting a little insight into others brains.
Things are getting interesting here, times are changing. First step which i can talk about currently is the lad is signed up to a 'young athlete conditioning program' at a local training facility, where they take youngsters and give them training, conditioning, strength, core, stretching, flexibility etc.. He's now got that 2 evenings a week for the forseeable future. DH is a tough sport and having more strength will be massively important to him, as well of course as more fitness needed, which again we're working on.
Fair play to you weeksy for supporting your boy, I know how you feel with a boy in a similar position. I don't always love the way you present everything as I wouldn't feel happy putting everything I do with him on social media to a bunch of strangers, but that is just me (he races BMX at a pretty high level, top 20s nationally, regional number 1 or 2, and just qualified for the UCI world champs next year in Glasgow of which I'm super proud, but absolutely no chance of going anywhere seriously in the sport).
We seem to be coming to a point in the road now though and that's why I'm posting here now. I love supporting him in his riding, and will always take him to regional races as long as he wants to go (where he can be competitive without a massive time commitment), go to the dirt jumps and bike parks on his mtbs.
But now he's 13 I want to see a bit more commitment from him on the training side. That means full laps, sprints, gates, block starts etc. etc. and off-the-bike conditioning too (he's also 'sponsored' in that he gets sessions from a local conditioning guy who specializes in children's strength training (the brilliant Youth Exercise Centre in Portishead)). A national season costs me £5K+, and all his competitors are working and training *really* hard. I'm not sure he wants to put in the graft necessary, or really sees the link between work done and results - he'd rather stand around on the track and do some jumps, or go to the DJs! It's super important to have those fun sessions, but if he doesn't knuckle down a couple of days a week I'm reluctant to take him to the nationals where 1) he is going to get killed unless he trains and 2) I spend a lot of money. It seems that this is the point where he has to understand the value & necessity of hard work to get the best out of himself. I'm reluctant to take him to the hard races if he doesn't put in the work, but he has only just turned 13! In mumsnet style, AIBU?
I’m reluctant to take him to the hard races if he doesn’t put in the work, but he has only just turned 13! In mumsnet style, AIBU?
You're not being unreasonable no.... but as we're (myself and you) both finding as parents here, it's an incredibly tricky time and a very tough line to draw between fun and not fun... But to move onto the next levels they need to train, because the fact is, if they're not, someone else will be.
As with yourself, I see some 'fun' days as being just as important as the training/tech/coaching days, because they're still very small, small ones need fun and stimulation in their lives... so we've got to do our best to find a level where they get both.
The above bit may potentially mean that both mine and yours never make it to a high level... but that's their burden to carry as much as yours and mine mate. We can't give them the drive, the push and desire.... but they may well find that themselves in the coming year.
We're going Nationals next year, with the expectation of not doing particularly well, but treating it once again as a learning and adventure experience. The 'target' is to move into the better positions within Pearce next year, inside the top 15 should be realistic i think, esepcially as he'll know a couple of tracks and we'll be doing the open/uplift days.
Whilst i post about our exploits, i don't think i give anything more away than his name (which anyone could get from Instagram etc) and how the racing is going.
13 is very young , and a lot can happen in the next few years... I never looked at junior results as a senior as most of them would stop at 16 (athletics). I can see that's very different in the skills based sports, but you need to know that any point that long term plan can just stop, and that's the most likely scenario
Whilst I post about our exploits, I don’t think I give anything more away than his name (which anyone could get from Instagram etc) and how the racing is going.
I don't think for a second you're putting your boy in harm's way with these threads Weeksy, but I just wouldn't do it - that's just a personality thing. I don't put him on instagram or anything like that either. I'm just not a big social media fan!
I've been one who has queried in the past and possibly overstepped, and I'm probably about to again. But this
You’re not being unreasonable no…. but as we’re (myself and you) both finding as parents here, it’s an incredibly tricky time and a very tough line to draw between fun and not fun… But to move onto the next levels they need to train, because the fact is, if they’re not, someone else will be.
Is the key. If it stops being fun they won't want to do it at all, and while what you say is right about someone else will be doing it, 'pushing' kids into training programs and more structured riding if they don't want to do it can quickly then turn it from fun into something to be resented.
Don't ask me what the balance is, I got it wrong, and my age group regional / potential national according to coaches kid is now no longer interested in the sport. Given time again I'd do it different. I'd rather have them playing locally for the love of the sport than not at all, and what i thought was supporting them at every turn was gradually unpicking every part of what made it enjoyable. Guilty as charged, I wanted a national level kid I could be proud of, I ****ed that right up.
Even at 13, even if you think you have 'that relationship' just be careful. I kept asking are you sure you enjoy this, are you sure you want to do this and the answer was yes. Until one day the facade collapsed and it all came out, they were only doing it because it was what I wanted. Kids lie all the time, and they do it to please you.
I ****ed it up. Don't be like me.
I **** it up. Don’t be like me.
The thing is mate, you were only trying your best for him/them. You were only trying to give them the best chance at what you thought was their goal and dream. It's entirely possible that even without you pushing them, they'd still have given it up, don't feel too bad about it.
People do 'things' and stop, i played an insane amount of golf when younger... i no longer play. I raced motorbikes and motorbikes were my lift.... i no barely ever touch it... Things change, people change. I may not get it right either.. but that doesn't mean any of us on this thread ever COULD get it right... there is no 'right' maybe.... You can only do what you feel is right at any given time based upon what you know as a parent/person.
Yeah I don’t think there’s a “getting it wrong” issue. They’re kids and will do what they do. All we can do as parents is offer support.
Think of all the parents that get up at stoopid o’clock several mornings a week to take their “top 3 in age group at nationals” teens to the swimming pool. How many of them become Olympians? Very few. My friend’s son was in this boat. Got to 18 and the competition got a lot harder. Wasn’t quite able to get the time required for a scholarship to the US, went to uni here, quit competitive swimming. He has got a load of life skills though and can earn money on the side as a coach anywhere in the world whilst he figures out what he is going to do.
Tidworth (never been there, so good to see)
I'd definitely recommend trying to get a trip down there ahead of the race - the surface is predominantly chalky so can be hard to get to grips with (boom boom!) when damp.
I’d definitely recommend trying to get a trip down there ahead of the race – the surface is predominantly chalky so can be hard to get to grips with (boom boom!) when damp.
TBH there's no reason/need on this one, it's just a play race... his result doesn't matter, no ranking points, nothing like that, so we'll just go down, ride, race, see what happens. There'll already be loads of people who've been there 40000 times as it's that sort of place where locals rock up every 2nd week. If we have time and availability we may do, but i'm not massively worried.
Given time again I’d do it different. I’d rather have them playing locally for the love of the sport than not at all, and what i thought was supporting them at every turn was gradually unpicking every part of what made it enjoyable. Guilty as charged, I wanted a national level kid I could be proud of, I **** that right up.
Totally what I'm worried about. He can muck about with his mates and do regional races, we can all go and camp at them and I'll have a few beers with the other parents and it will remain an awesome way to spend some time together. He doesn't need to really train for the local races, simply riding his bike as he does now gets him competitive there - and you need to be in the race for it to be fun really.
But he claims he wants to do the national series again, and of course now he's got the opportunity to represent GB at the worlds next year (does he really want to do it? Is he just saying that?) but seems a bit reluctant to train 'properly' once a week. I don't think I'm pushing him but it is really hard to tell - he could easily feel a pressure that isn't really there. I'd like to think he knows it's up to him, but who knows? If he stopped the nationals and dropped his GB place I'd get to ride my bike again, and have a lot more spare time and cash, and we could do more mtb-ing together. But part of me would be disappointed, as I'd love him to experience a world championship and pull on a GBR jersey (he may never get another chance!) and I think he knows that - that's what I'm worried about.
It's hard when they get to a level that requires a lot of commitment to progress - especially when it is clear that there are at least 10 kids in his age group in the UK who are incredibly talented and there is no real 'future' in it. It's why most kids stop bmx - there is no equivalent of the pub team really. I only wanted him to take up bmx so he'd get some handling skills for the mtb anyway!
All you can do is be honest with him and tell him that it's going to take hard work if he wants to get anywhere. Then it's up to him, he's only thirteen, a lot can happen in the next few years. At least we're talking about mtbing and bmx, not swimming. Yes it'll be hard work to get anywhere but it won't be as dull as swimming. My son is 19 and has been diving for about 12 years. Like you I never thought it would amount to much and thought he would have to give it up. When exams were approaching I thought he'd have to stop, but then he won a Scottish title, diving up an age group. So we kept going. Then he came 6th at British juniors as a 16 yo in the 16-18 age group scoring a massive pb. Then another Scottish title. Then COVID happened and he lost about a year and a half as he didn't qualify for the elite athlete training exemption. For a long time he didn't think he could dive from 10m again. He got back on it just in time for his last British juniors and was the only diver to score a 10. So we kept going. He then dived really poorly at Scottish champs and I thought it was time to stop but in the afternoon he completely switched it round and won again. When he was 16 we dreamed about the Commonwealth Games. That had gone out the window. And now it was back. He worked his socks off, there was a lot of sacrifices and it was hard for him but he got there. Watching him dive in the final of a major tournament, a lot of the finalist had also been in the World Champs final, was a very proud day. This has been a very long post to basically say 13 is still very young and a lot can happen in the next 5 or 6 years.
Fab story! Thanks for sharing mate
for a WC attempt, he’s too young currently to do so. I’ve not actually checked in depth yet as he’s only just 14, but i think it’s 17 you need to be for entering the juniors at that level.
I believe young finn iles was sponsored by the gravity republic team (lapierre then specialized now) under 17 and attended the world cups as a course sweeper. So you know, if he's got it, he can attend early. 😃
Well it's race day at FoD today. DH craziness as always.
The boy is down with some man flu, so struggled to 3 runs of practice yesterday and 2 today, not exactly ideal.
We've thrown some paracetamol in him, if he can only manage 1 race run, that's ok. He has been having a lie down this morning, trying out new lines, one apparently didn't work ha ha.
Race time 12.26 roughly for him.
6th place for the boy today in what was a properly competitive field. Way happy with that.
The lad who beat him last week into 2nd was in 8th today, so great result for the boy.
I felt as today would have some tech and fast lads, inside top 10 would be golden. So 6th we can take as a top result.
We came home happy.
Congrats on the result, that seems very good especially as he was feeling under the weather
Great result. Well done the boy Weeks
Solid result 👌
Great result for your son, nice one
How did you get on, weren’t you entering as well? Did you enjoy yourself?
Top effort weeksy jnr
How did you get on, weren’t you entering as well? Did you enjoy yourself?
Mine went in the other bike thread. I had a great time thanks, if somewhat scary. Lol that tape really changes the dynamics of the day.
I crashed in the morning and have possibly broken my finger based upon how it's feeling this evening, but that's not an excuse.
I propped up the bottom of the Grand Vets sadly. But I'm ok with that. Had lots of banter and chat with the other oldies both before and after the race.
Still a bazillion updates, but currently i've got to bite my tongue.
Interesting one though is a few race plans/developments that i can currently provide and the rest of it will become apparent at a later date 🙂
The boy is working crazy hard at developing his strength, core, overall fitness, with multiple classes designed specifically for young athletes lol.. It's basically a fancy name for 'teenager circuits' to me, but what do i know.
He's also coming round after i pointed him to an article where Bruni was saying his favourite bike is a Levo e-bike.. The lad is now seeming to get his head around this and the benefits it can bring of the ability to session trails, get to trails and home easier and doing 10 runs instead of 3 before being too tired. So he's curently headed off on the jaunt to the woods they play at, on the Liv e-bike for the day... With the plan of practicing certain techniques and trails for trickier tech. We've both been in the woods over the weekend with the rake and the shovels creating a new tech trail, steep and what looks to me to be almost impossible lol..
We're now sitting waiting for the National DH dates along with Pearce dates, but as well as that if we can manage it in terms of clashes, we're doing a full season of Southen Enduro or Welsh Enduro series... Depends which ones work out best in terms of dates.
Next year is going to be absolutely incredible i think.... Time of our lives for both of us.